Backyard Project- DONE!

BEFORE- 2006

When we bought the house the backyard included: exposed rock walkways-Ouch!, extra small rock- which during weed wacking broke the glass on our french door, two cement pads in the back corners with water fountains- one fell over and broke within a week of us living there, huge palm trees in the back corners- added to Ben's extreme hate of palms, a round cement picnic table and bench- it was useful but we were so much happier when we finally got rid of it, no patio covering- which led to water damage inside our back doors. Last year we started the project of adding a back porch and a extended driveway. (We know we would never be able to park two cars in our garage.)

AFTER- 2010

Ben and I were finishing up landscaping last Saturday and we both laughed about all the changes we made, wondering if it was worth buying this house. We love everything about where we live and our ward, but we will let the dust settle a little before answering that question.

Our little plants are coming up!

Thomas loves to go outside several times a day to look at our strawberry. He is so excited and can't wait until it is red enough to eat.

Planting our First Garden

At the end of February we were finally ready to plant! Grandpa Skinner came to be the resident expert, as we feel like we don't know what we are doing. We are prepared that this might end up just being a great learning experience. Ben has worked so hard (an understatement) getting our garden areas and drip system ready. Kids picked out what they wanted to plant, I loved organizing where we would plant what, we bought seeds and plants, marked our square feet and just did it! After playing basketball, Jarom was ready to help! He planted his potatoes, then took the camera to capture the day.

Strawberries

Lots of onions- maybe it is in my blood? (My Grandad Rogers is an expert on onions.)

FYI- everything is organized, symmetrical, and in it's own place. (That definately runs on Ben's side of the family.)

Planting peas and spinach

Camille loves edamame- so she picked out soy beans to plant.

Everyone helped, we loved doing this altogether.

We planted most of the afternoon, then Ben spent the rest of the evening cementing the dividers for the garden. He finished just as it started raining around midnight. One of the things I appreciate most about Ben is how hard he works for the benefit of his family. I have never seen him leave a job half done, no matter how long it takes him. I have been excited to finish our backyard to enjoy being outside for the years to come. But I didn't realize how much I would love the process!

What we love...

For dessert the other night I cut the rest of the grapefruit my parents gave us (my idea, the kids would rather have cookies). I think I cut in half, separated and helped the kids slurp the last of the juice of 7 or 8 that night. Isn't there an easier way to eat a grapefruit?

Our whole family loves grapefruit! We planted a tree in our backyard and maybe we will have some fruit of our own someday.

Naps are an occasional thing for Thomas these days. A couple of times I have found him about 5pm crashed out on a couch!

Thomas turns 3!

Thomas had a fun birthday at the beginning of the month! He was so excited to be able to sing Happy Birthday to himself and be the one to blow out the candles. When we ask how old he is he will quickly show us three fingers, but we have to remind him that he is three now instead of two. We celebrated all weekend for him- on Sunday with my family then Ben's parents on Monday. Our baby is three! When I call him my baby he looks around

for a baby somewhere because knows he is a "big boy."

I was better at video taping this birthday than taking still photos!

By the end of the celebrations he was exhausted, and wasn't

a very happy birthday boy parting with his toys to go to bed.

I love that Thomas is excited to go play with friends and go to preschool, but he is just as happy to come back home to hang out with me, never crying or complaining. He is always wanting to do the next thing, he'll ask me "where we go now, mom." He loves riding his bike, going to the park, watching Curious George and Peter Pan, playing with the big kids, helping me with the soap for the diswasher, helping with laundry, going to both his grandma's houses, swinging and riding the carousel at the mall.